926 results about "Bellcrank" patented technology

A lancing device with automatic stick and lance return features is disclosed. A drive mechanism within the unit comprises a slider-crank linkage combination. It is biased by a spring member to cause automatic firing once a crank member advanced by a user causes movement of an internal linkage member beyond its fully-cocked position. After firing, the lance is withdrawn so as not to pose a threat of secondary injury to the user. In use, the device is substantially silent though its course of operation. Yet, its configuration lends itself to producing a very quick, virtually painless stick with minimal recoil or shock to the device.

A moving crank mechanism that is particularly adapted for use in a conveyor system. A moving crank remains in a substantially parallel position with respect to a fixed reference plane as the crank member is driven by its offset opposed ends along an endless loop. The closed loop vertical lift unit is adapted for use in an automated high-speed storage system. The vertical lift unit is adapted to be used as a primary storage location or as a lift for carrying objects in transit between levels in a storage system. The vertical lift unit includes a plurality of crank members with generally rigidly mounted shelves that are adapted to carry objects continuously and indefinitely as the shelves travel through a vertically oriented closed path. While traveling along the vertically oriented closed path the shelves remain parallel to a fixed horizontal plane so objects can be carried on the shelves while the shelves transition between the up and down reaches of the vertical lift mechanism. The opposed ends of the crank member are journaled in carriage members that are mounted to carry the respective ends of the crank member around the closed loop. The respective ends are carried around the closed loop at about the same rate. The closed loops are offset from one another by the amount of the crank offset. Shelf stabilizing mechanisms can also be employed.

A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to adjust between closed, extended, and reclined positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a seat-mounting plate mounted to a footrest assembly, a back-mounting link and a rear bellcrank both rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, an activator bar that controls a footrest drive link, and a linear actuator for carrying out automated adjustment of the linkage assembly. In operation, a stroke in a first phase of the linear actuator generates a torque on the activator bar. The footrest drive link converts the torque into a laterally-directed force that pushes the footrest assembly into the extended position. A stroke in the second phase acts to push the activator bar forward and translate the seat-mounting plate forward at a consistent inclination angle. The forward translation causes the rear bellcrank to rotate, thereby biasing the back-mounting link rearward into the reclined position.

A foldable elliptical fitness machine comprises a first frame, a second frame supported by the first frame, and an enabling assembly for enabling the second frame to rotate with respect to the first frame, the first frame securely supported on a floor and the second frame installed an elliptical structure, and the second frame is pivotally coupled to the first frame by a pivoting device, such that the second frame can be rotated with respect to the first frame, wherein the elliptical structure comprises a rotating member having two eccentric. pivotal points, and two pedal arms. A central penetrating axle of the rotating member is pivotally coupled onto the second frame, and each eccentric pivotal point is pivotally coupled to the first end of the pedal arm, and each pedal arm includes a footrest for a user to step. If the first end of the pedal arm rotates with the crank, the footrest will move in an elliptic path. With the foregoing structural design, the elliptical structure of the invention has the functions of changing the inclination of the elliptical fitness machine so that users have the convenience of using by changing the level of difficulty of their exercise.

A pump mechanism having multiple cylinders, whose axes are situated around a crankshaft to enclose predetermined angles, and whose pistons are each functionally connected to a connecting rod mounted on a crank on the crankshaft, each connecting rod being mounted on its own crank and the cranks having a predetermined angular offset to one another. This angular offset of the cranks is selected in accordance with the angle which the cylinder axes enclose in such a way that the phase shifts between each two pistons of the cylinders actuated in sequence during a rotation of the crankshaft are equally large.

An outdoor umbrella that closes automatically in high wind is disclosed. The wind causes the main support post of the umbrella to flex from the vertical dislodging a plunger from its weight bearing mounting on a rigid rod. The plunger is attached to an actuator rod extending upward within the support post. When the plunger is displaced the actuator rod is caused to move downward thereby activating a releasing ratchet which frees a shaft to rotate and the cable which holds the canopy to unwind. A hydraulic cylinder attached to one of the canopy ribs presses on the rib to close the canopy and maintain the canopy in closed orientation. As the canopy closes a reset mechanism is activated which resets the plunger onto the rigid rod. Once closed the canopy will remain closed until raised by manually rewinding the cable onto the shaft using a hand crank attached to the end of the shaft. A second ratchet assembly incorporated into the hand crank prevents the hand crank from spinning when the umbrella closes.

An exercise apparatus links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical motion of a foot supporting member. A foot supporting linkage is movably connected between a rocker and a crank in such a manner that the foot supporting member moves through a range of motion greater in length than the distance between the points of connection to the crank.

A torque-indicating wrench includes a handle, a strain gauge, a lever, a head and a driving mechanism. The strain gauge is placed in the handle. The lever including a first end inserted in and pivotally connected to the handle and abutted against the strain gauge and a second end placed out of the handle. The head includes a tubular portion non-pivotally placed around and on the handle. The driving mechanism includes a bit-rotating element pivotally placed in the head and formed with a crank pivotally connected to the second end of the lever.

A measurement module that measures force being applied to a man-powered machine includes: a strain sensor that detects strain of a crank of the bicycle configured to transmit force being applied from a user through the crank and one front gear selected among one or more front gears; an MM magnetic sensor that detects the crank passing through a predetermined position; and an MM control part. The MM control part calculates a rotation angle of the crank based on an elapsed time from a time the crank passes through the predetermined position that the sensor has detected, calculates force applied to the crank based on a strain amount of the crank that the strain sensor has detected, associates the rotation angle with the force applied to the crank to calculate distribution of the force applied from the user.

A tandem exerciser is described with two facing seats and two pedal cranks that cause tandem riders to face each other and pedal forwards. A mutually operable handlebar crank with opposing handles mechanically couples to pedals on both sides of the distal pedal crank. A single sprocket wheel concentrically attached to the proximal pedal crank is coupled by a twisted, figure-eight looped chain to one of two sprocket wheels coupled to the distal pedal crank. These opposing sprocket wheels are mounted to their respective pedal cranks so as to have opposite offset angles relative to vertical plane of frame. These offset angles prevent damaging physical contact between sides of chain. The remaining sprocket wheel of distal pedal crank is conventionally chain coupled to freewheel coupled to hub of flywheel. Optionally, a power generator is belt-coupled to outer rim of flywheel, to produce electrical, fluidic or motive power.

A rear bicycle suspension has a main frame including a seat riser tube, a down tube, head tube, and a bottom bracket housing having left and right sides, a guide arm and a shock mount attached to the main frame, a pair of swing arm assemblies each one in pivotal attachment on either side of the main frame at a first pivot point and to a bell crank at a second pivot point, the swing arms in rearward extension form the first and second pivot points to at least one rear swing arm attachment point, and further including a lever arm connected between the first and the second pivot points, a guide arm having first and second ends wherein the first end in pivotal attachment to the guide arm bracket at a fifth pivot point and the second end extends upward and rearward from the fifth pivot point, wherein the bell crank is pivotally connected between the lever arms at the second pivot point and to the guide arm at a third pivot point, a shock absorbing member in pivotal attachment at one end to the shock mount and at another end at a fourth pivot point to the bell crank.